Best of Apple — October 2025

  1. 1
    Article
    Avatar of hnHacker News·30w

    Boring Is What We Wanted

    Reflects on five years since the M1 Mac launch, arguing that predictable, incremental chip updates represent success rather than stagnation. The transition to Apple silicon eliminated the performance-efficiency trade-off that plagued Intel Macs, delivering consistent improvements in speed, thermal management, and battery life. Critics calling recent M-series updates "boring" miss the point—steady, regular progress was exactly what users wanted after years of unpredictable hardware cycles and thermal issues during the PowerPC and Intel eras.

  2. 2
    Article
    Avatar of hnHacker News·32w

    Liquid Glass Is Cracked, and Usability Suffers in iOS 26

    iOS 26's new Liquid Glass visual language prioritizes aesthetics over usability, introducing translucent UI elements that obscure content, animated buttons that distract users, and smaller tap targets that violate established guidelines. The update breaks long-standing iOS conventions by moving search to the bottom, removing breadcrumbs from back buttons, and adopting Android-style design patterns. Controls now appear and disappear unpredictably, making the interface harder to learn. The emphasis on visual effects creates readability issues with text overlaying images and other text, while constant animations compete for attention instead of supporting content.

  3. 3
    Article
    Avatar of thevergeThe Verge·31w

    MacBook Pro rumor points to OLED, touchscreen upgrades next year

    Bloomberg reports that Apple's 2026 MacBook Pro refresh will feature OLED displays, touchscreen capability, and M6 processors with a hole-punch webcam design similar to iPhone's Dynamic Island. The redesign will include a thinner, lighter frame and reinforced hinges, but is expected to cost several hundred dollars more than current models. Apple may also transition from Touch ID to Face ID authentication in future iterations, though that change is still years away.

  4. 4
    Article
    Avatar of uxplanetUX Planet·31w

    iOS 26: Beyond Liquid Glass

    iOS 26 introduces the Liquid Glass design material, bringing significant interface changes including floating bottom navigation, repositioned search functionality, and enhanced motion design. The update moves primary actions to the bottom for better ergonomics, hides the home indicator to reduce clutter, and creates a more fluid, tactile user experience. While the aesthetic is visually striking, some inconsistencies exist across apps, and the material's effectiveness depends heavily on wallpaper choice. The changes represent a thoughtful evolution in Apple's design language, balancing visual innovation with usability improvements for larger screens.

  5. 5
    Article
    Avatar of thevergeThe Verge·32w

    The iPad just got the chip it needs to be a smart home controller

    Apple's new M5-powered iPad Pro includes the N1 wireless networking chip, bringing official Thread protocol support to iPads for the first time. While the immediate use case appears to be simplified setup of Thread smart home devices without requiring a separate border router, this addition hints at the possibility of iPads returning as Apple Home hubs. The N1 chip combines Wi-Fi 7, Bluetooth 6, and Thread support, and will likely appear in future Apple smart home products like the Apple TV and HomePod Mini 2.

  6. 6
    Video
    Avatar of techlinkedTechLinked·30w

    What Has Valve Done??

    Valve's Counter-Strike 2 update crashed the in-game economy by $1.75 billion by changing trade-up contracts. Microsoft released Copilot updates for Edge browser with AI-assisted multi-step tasks and introduced Mo, a new visual assistant. Xbox faces pressure for 30% profit margins, leading to price hikes and the announcement of Halo coming to PlayStation 5 in 2026. Apple may disable app tracking transparency in Europe due to regulatory pressure and is developing tools to help users migrate from iOS to Android. Memory prices are rising up to 30% due to AI demand affecting RAM and SSD costs.

  7. 7
    Article
    Avatar of appledevApple Developer·32w

    New requirement for apps using Sign in with Apple for account creation

    Starting January 1, 2026, developers in South Korea must provide a server-to-server notification endpoint when using Sign in with Apple. This endpoint enables Apple to send critical updates about user account changes, including email forwarding preference modifications, app-specific account deletions, and permanent Apple Account deletions. Developers must immediately process these notifications to update user data and maintain transparency around account changes, particularly for email forwarding and deletion events. The requirement aims to give users better control over their personal data while ensuring apps comply with privacy standards and local regulations.

See all Apple archives